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Tuesday, July 3, 2018

Father and son trek to South Pole, using only renewable energy

Father and son trek to South Pole, using only renewable energy

Christina Capatides

Thirty-two years ago, Robert Swan made history as the first
person to walk to both poles. Even as a young man, these grueling
expeditions took a harsh toll on his body. Passing directly beneath the
hole in the ozone layer, Swan's face became badly burned and his eyes
even changed color. But the Arctic explorer now says that all of that
physical duress pales in comparison to the agony of watching his son go
through the same experience 32 years later.This past winter,
after years of preparation, Robert Swan set out to trek the 600 miles to
the South Pole again -- this time, with his 24-year-old son Barney by
his side. And this time, with an additional challenge built in: they
would survive exclusively off of renewable energy.It was a "swan song" with a very important goal. If the father-son team
could get by on renewable energy in the harshest environment on Earth,
then people in the comfort of their own homes could do it, too."At
the age of 61, it's not really something that people should do," Swan
told CBSN Originals of his decision to undertake the difficult journey
across Antarctica a second time. "But Barney convinced me that together
as father and son, together as the millennial generation and the older
generation, we need to join together because this can't be a bunch of
young people thinking one thing and a bunch of old people thinking
another. We've got to join together because we are in a survival
situation on planet Earth."The success of the expedition
necessitated the pioneering of new equipment that would use renewable
energy to melt snow and ice into hot water on the move in the Antarctic.
So, while Robert had previously used jet fuel to cook his food and keep
warm in the -40-degree temperatures, this time he and his son used biofuels
derived from wood chips to do the job. They used solar panels, provided
by NASA, that plugged into their sleds to melt ice and snow into
drinkable water."We're attempting to do something that no other
expedition has tried yet in the hope to really show that these
technologies can work, not only in our own nations, in our own homes,
but in the world's most hostile place," Barney explains in the CBSN Originals documentary, "Expedition Antarctica," as he and his father are preparing to set off on their unprecedented journey.While
the energy sources sustaining them were different, Antarctica's climate
was as unforgiving as ever. And once again, the combination of subzero
temperatures and strenuous physical activity began taking a harsh toll
on Robert's body."His legs, his inner thigh, everywhere in
between, it was like repellent," Barney recalled to CBS News. "We're
talking like bits of flesh falling off him. He was decaying. And to
think that all it takes is that one degree too far and you could die; I
was literally watching my father on the slow road to death."Robert
finally realized that in order for the expedition to succeed he would
have to bow out. The team had to keep up its pace or risk running out of
food and fuel; slowing down or waiting until he recovered weren't
options. So he made arrangements for a helicopter to transport him back
to base camp, and he made the excruciating decision to leave Barney
behind to finish what they'd started."It was the worst moment of
my life for the simple reason that I knew what lay ahead," Robert
recalled through tears in an interview at Davos.
"I felt a failure as an expedition leader. I felt a failure for my son.
I felt absolutely appalling, but I knew that this expedition wasn't
about Robert Swan.
This expedition was about inspiring people on energy use. It was about
doing the right thing and the right thing for me to do was to put myself
second and the expedition first. I just had to, for once in my life,
realize my limitations. And I went back to the base camp and had the
worst week of my life, dealing with the word failure. And I had to
listen to what was happening with my son's feet. His toes were turning
black. ... And I was sitting there thinking, 'I should be there.'"Father and son explorers Robert and Barney Swan discuss their mission to save the planetBarney,
however, didn't see his father's decision as a failure. On the
contrary, the 24-year-old, whose toe was turning black due to the brutal
negative-40-degree temperatures and repeated banging on his boots, was
overcome with pride for his dad."I don't think I've ever been as
proud of my dad," an emotional Barney told CBS News. "It takes courage
to tell your team you don't have it in you, and that's what he did
today."Barney, more determined than ever, continued on toward the
south geographic pole. And when he was 60 miles from the goal, Robert
choppered back in to join him, so that together, they could complete
their mission."It was a moment where I let go of so many things in life because he'd done it," Robert recalled,
looking lovingly at his son. "Those stupid words like 'failure' and
everything else disappeared because there he was in my arms."Now,
father and son have both inked their names in the history books.
They've risked their lives to send a dramatic message to the rest of the
world about the feasibility of climate solutions. And they've proven
that a passion for adventure, innovation and discovery just may be
something that's passed along, from generation to generation."The last thing I said to Barney as I got on that plane," says an emotional Robert Swan,
"[was] just remember whose son you are. And my blood's in your blood.
And you can bloody do this.' And to do it, he had to go through hell and
he's still going through hell, but we did it."

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